What We Believe

What We Believe

♦About GodWe believe there is one true and living God. This God is the God of the Bible, who identifies himself by name as “I am.” We believe that this God is the creator of the universe, and sustains our world and our lives to this very day. This God loves us, and desires to have relationship with us above all else. We believe that God reveals himself to humanity in three distinct but equal persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). (John 14:17, 23; Deuteronomy 6:4).

♦ About God the FatherWe believe God the Father is by nature holy and perfect, deeply concerned about justice, goodness, and righteousness. He is infinite, eternal, unchangeable (when he makes a promise, he always keeps it), and all-powerful. He cares so much for people that he always listens to our prayers and helps us to have better lives by sending Jesus as the Messiah. (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 8:6).

♦ About JesusWe believe Jesus (called the Christ, or Messiah) is God’s one and only son, born into this world to be a sacrifice for all people. He is able to be a sacrifice for us as he was born without brokenness, selfishness, defects, flaws, or any imperfection (what the Bible calls ‘sin’); he was born of Mary, a virgin, and not from a human father, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to Earth to demonstrate God’s great love for all people. After sacrificing himself and dying on a cross, he rose again on the third day and ascended to heaven to dwell with God the Father, the place where we too will one day live. (John 3:16, 10:30).

♦ About the Holy SpiritWe believe the Holy Spirit, whom the Bible also calls our “helper” or “comforter” was given by God to develop hope, faith, wisdom and love in our lives. He empowers each of us to make a difference in our community. When we commit our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives permanently and is always there for us. (1 Corinthians 3:16; John 14:26).

♦ About the BibleWe believe that the Bible (the sixty-six books of the Old & New Testaments) is the word of God. The Bible is fully breathed-on (inspired) by God and is 100% trustworthy for our lives. The Bible was written by people who were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and therefore we do not add to it today. If we let it, the Bible has the power and authority to transform our lives, families and community. (1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:21; Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:16).

♦ About Relationship with GodWe believe that God desires relationship with all people, regardless of their past or present. God is clear that there is only one way to have relationship with him: we must make a commitment by faith to have his son, Jesus, as our Savior. The reason: Jesus’ death served as a substitution for each of us; even though we make mistakes, act selfishly, and do wrong, God does not punish us for this since God already punished Jesus for us. This is why we must seriously commit our lives to Jesus as savior to allow him to act as our substitution. (Romans 10:9-13).

♦ About the ChurchWe believe the church is the way that God wants his people to work together. The church is not the building, the church is the people. The church (the people who believe in God thru Jesus) has five basic purposes: to worship God, to develop people and help them have abundant lives here on Earth, to be a community (for fun in the good times and support in the sad times), to help people inside & outside the church, and to tell other people about Jesus. (Matthew 16:15-19, 18:15-20).

♦ About God’s PromisesWe believe that God has promised those who are in Jesus many more things than we could ever achieve (or dream of) ourselves. God promises us that when we follow Jesus, we will have an abundant life here on Earth, and our life will have meaning and purpose. God promises us that no matter our past or present, our future can be different—better that we think possible. God promises we can do things in this life that will matter forever. God promises to send Jesus back to Earth one day, to wrap everything up, and that when all is said and done, and we have passed from this life, we will live with God in heaven in his majestic house and presence. (John 10:10b; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Matthew 25:41).